Twist mop with biased cup

Abstract

A mop includes a mop handle with a grip end and a mopping end. A locking cup is disposed on the mopping end. The locking cup includes a cup portion with interior threads and a locking tooth. A mop head is disposed at the mopping end. The mop head connects to a locking cap. The locking cap includes a locking tab configured to engage with the interior threads of the locking cup to allow for selective removal of the mop head from the mop handle and to engage and be retained by the locking tooth when the locking cap is threaded into the locking cup. A biasing element is disposed in the cup portion and contacts the locking cap and generate a bias between the locking cap and the locking cup and urge the locking tab against the locking tooth when the locking cap is threaded into the cup portion.

We claim: 
     
       1. A mop, comprising:
 a mop handle with a grip end and a mopping end; 
 a locking cup disposed on the mopping end of the mop handle, the locking cup including a cup portion including interior threads, a sleeve portion attached to the mopping end, and a bottom wall portion between the cup portion and the sleeve portion; 
 a mop head disposed at the mopping end of the mop handle, the mop head connected to a locking cap, the locking cap including a locking tab configured to selectively engage with the interior threads of the locking cup so as to allow for selective removal of the mop head from the mop handle; and 
 a biasing element disposed in the cup portion and configured to contact the locking cap and generate a bias between the locking cap and the locking cup when the locking cap is threaded into the cup portion, the biasing element including a plurality of curved dome-shaped strips that are compressible and springy and form part of the bottom wall portion and extend upwardly from the bottom wall portion. 
 
     
     
       2. The mop of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing element is formed as a single-piece construction with the locking cup. 
     
     
       3. The mop of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing element is formed with the bottom wall portion. 
     
     
       4. The mop of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom wall portion includes a central portion and two or more connecting portions, the two or more connecting portions extending between the central portion and the cup portion. 
     
     
       5. The mop of  claim 4 , wherein the bottom wall portion extends radially from the sleeve portion and is disk-shaped. 
     
     
       6. The mop of  claim 4 , including at least two biasing elements, the at least two biasing elements extending between adjacent connection portions. 
     
     
       7. The mop of  claim 6 , wherein each of the at least two biasing elements are shaped and sized to extend upwardly from the bottom wall portion. 
     
     
       8. The mop of  claim 1 , further comprising a locking tooth disposed on the interior threads of the locking cup and shaped and sized to engage the locking tab of the locking cap. 
     
     
       9. The mop of  claim 8 , wherein the locking tooth includes a ramp side that is shaped and sized to deflect resiliently the locking tab from an initial radially extending position on the locking cap. 
     
     
       10. The mop of  claim 9 , wherein the locking tooth includes a retaining side that is sized and shaped to retain the locking tooth in position when the locking tooth is engaged therewith. 
     
     
       11. A mop comprising:
 a mop handle with a grip end and a mopping end; 
 a locking cup disposed on the mopping end of the mop handle, the locking cup including a cup portion with interior threads, a sleeve portion attached to the mopping end, and a bottom wall portion between the cup portion and the sleeve portion, wherein the interior threads include a locking tooth formed thereon; 
 a mop head disposed at the mopping end of the mop handle, the mop head connected to a locking cap, the locking cap including a locking tab configured to selectively engage with the interior threads of the locking cup so as to allow for selective removal of the mop head from the mop handle and configured to engage and be retained by the locking tooth when the locking cap is threaded into the locking cup; and 
 a biasing element disposed in the cup portion and configured to contact the locking cap and generate a bias between the locking cap and the locking cup and urge the locking tab against the locking tooth when the locking cap is threaded into the cup portion, wherein the biasing element includes a plurality of curved dome-shaped strips that are compressible and springy and form part of the bottom wall portion and extend upwardly from the bottom wall portion. 
 
     
     
       12. The mop of  claim 11 , including at least two locking tabs formed on the locking cap and at least two corresponding locking teeth formed on the interior threads.